China Admits Ship Damaged Baltic Gas Pipeline

China has acknowledged that the Hong Kong-flagged vessel, NewNew Polar Bear, accidentally damaged the Balticconnector gas pipeline between Estonia and Finland last October, attributing the incident to a strong storm. An internal investigation by Chinese authorities concluded that the incident was accidental, but the report has been deemed inadmissible as official evidence in ongoing joint criminal inquiries by Estonian and Finnish authorities. Despite their cooperation with China, both countries have urged Beijing to respond to their urgent requests for information regarding the vessel. Investigators found an anchor, believed to belong to the NewNew Polar Bear, near the damaged pipeline, which was dragged 100 meters from its original location. While the investigation continues, final conclusions regarding the incident, including whether it was due to negligence or another cause, have yet to be determined. The Estonian Prosecutor's Office noted that the document from China has not been received and cannot be utilized as evidence in legal proceedings.